Ice racer



July 31, 19 2 F. PLISKA 3,047,303 i ICE RACER Filed Feb. 8, 1960 I4 INVENTOR.

FEUX PIJSKA 55- FE'LE w M ATTORNEY Patented July 31, 1.962

3,047,303 ICE RACER Felix Pliska, 6408 La Cienega Drive, North Highlands, Calif. Filed Feb. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 7,364 1 Claim. (Cl. 280-12) This invention relates to vehicles and, more particularly, to a vehicle for movement along ice and snow.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a set of runners for movement along a layer of ice or snow, upon which one or more persons may be seated in a comfortable and entertaining manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice racer which can be conveniently manipulated by young and old persons alike, is extremely safe and stable, and which can be effectively controlled by means of manually operated shafts.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide an ice racer of the type described which can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost, and which can be made in any desired size.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an ice racer made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of certain parts of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of still other parts of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a pair of control shafts forming a part of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 99 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line Iii-10 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawing, an ice racer 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a pair of longitudinal stringers 12 secured in spaced apart parallel relationship by means of brackets 16 and frame elements 18, 20 upon which a seat 22 for one or more persons is supported. The brackets 16 also support a foot rest 14 that extends therebetween, whereas the frame members 18, 20 are secured together, such as by welding 19, in order to provide a rigid construction. Each of the brackets 16 and frame elements 18, 20 are secured to the stringers 12, such as by rivets or other suitable fasteners 25.

Each stringer 12 is provided with a depending runner 24, also secured such as by fasteners 25 to the respective stringer. These runners 24 glidingly support the stringers 12 for movement along the ice or snow layer.

Manually operated means 30 is also provided for controlling the direction and speed of movement of the racer in use. This control assembly 30 includes a pair of shafts 32, each of which is provided with an outwardly opening recess 34 in one end, within which the base 36 of a spike 38 is received. The spike 38 is also projected through a central opening 40 in a cap 42 that is secured to the adjacent end of the shaft 32, such as by a fastener 44, thus effectively locking the spike 38 in place. The opposite end of each such shaft 32 is provided with a transverse bore 46 through which a flexible handle 48 is threaded. This end of the shaft 32 is also provided with a cap 50 secured thereupon by a fastener 52.

It will now be recognized that in actual use, one or more persons seated upon the seat 22 may control their 9 direction and speed of movement by means of the shafts 32, one of which is held along each side of the racer. In order to turn to the right, while the racer is moving, the spike 38 of the right shaft is brought into engagement with the supporting surface, thus causing the sled to bear to the right. The opposite is true if the left shaft is brought into bearing engagement with the ground. Both such shafts 32 may be used to accelerate the racer, or used to decelerate the racer. Of course, this device is relatively light in weight, stable, and easy to manipulate for young and old persons alike.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

An ice racer comprising a seat, depending frame members spaced from each other and connected to the sides of the seat, a pair of stringers each spaced from the other and connected to the frame members, the frame members having a transverse element at their lower ends connected to the top of the stringers rearward of the seat, a foot rest disposed forward of the seat the ends thereof being connected to the sides of the stringers and its front edge being elevated over its trailing edge and adjacent to the top of the stringers, to space and prevent the stringers from twisting, each stringer having a groove in its bottom edge extending substantially the full length thereof, a runner disposed in each groove, and a plurality of fasteners through each stringer on both sides of the groove and the runner in such groove for clamping the stringer against the runner and holding such runner in its groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

